Apparatus for producing optical illusions.



' PATENTED MAR. s, 1904.

F. J. STRAUB. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL ILLUSIONS.

APPLIOATIPN FILED JULY 15. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

ldz'zfizeaaeax a/ww/ Patented March 8, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS J. STRAUB, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL lLLUSlO NS- SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 754,100, dated March 8, 1904.

Application filed July 15, 1903. Serial No. 165,576. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS J. STRAUB, a citizen of the United States, residing atPittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Producing Optical Illusions, of which improvement the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for producing optical illusions, and relates more particularly to an apparatus whereby a transformation is produced.

The object of this invention is to produce an apparatus wherein the performer may Without any unusual skill apparently transform a figure of any desired character into a plurality of objects which are suspended on a line or cord, the end farthest from the operator being anchored to any desired object.

A further object of this invention is to produce an apparatus which will be cheap and simple in construction and effective in operation and in which the principal parts may be reused any number of times.

With the above and other objects in view my invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which" Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the figure in which the plurality of objects are contained. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the figure, showing the objects within the same. Fig. 1 is a sectional plan View of the same. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the objects in their extended position, the central portion thereof being broken out. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the device after the apparent transformation has taken place.

The reference-numeral 1 indicates a line or cord secured to which are a plurality of display-surfaces, such as flags 2, having adver tising matter or any other suitable ornamentation thereon, and secured to one end of the cord 1 is a ring or other holding device 3. The other end of the cord 1 has secured to it the weight 1, on the end of which a pointed projection or holding-pin 5 is formed or secured.

In performing the illusion the objects 2 are folded in any compact manner, the said folding being preferably such as shown [in Fig. 4:, this being a form which is compact and at the same time one which may be readily undone, as is necessary when the apparent transformation takes place. Theobjects after being folded as just described are incased and held in an outer casing 6, which is preferably constructed of thin paper, such as Japanese or tissue paper or the like, and may be made in any suitable form and any desirable appearance may be given the same by painting or printing the same on the figure.

In the drawings I haveshown the figure as an infant; but I do not limit myself to this I form and .appearance of figure. The holding device 3 and weight 4:, carrying the spike 5, are suitably located within this figure at a and are thus hidden from the view of the spectators. The figure is first shown the spectators in the form as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

and after the inspection of the same the per' means 3 and weight A may be grasped by the hand which is at the rear-of the figure, the figure being between said hand and the spectators, whereby this operation is not apparent to the spectators. After making suitable passes the weight is thrown from the hand and the force and velocity of the same will carry the cord 1, which is attached to it, thus breaking up the paper casing 6, which is around the objects 2. The holding means 3 being retained in the performers hand and the spike 5, carried by the weight 4, striking any desired object 7, the one end of the cord 1 will thus be held by the performer, while the other is securely anchored, thus permitting the display of all the objects 2 secured to said cord. The rapidity with which this operation takes place provides an effective illusion, and the performer securing the holding means to a suitable point an effective decoration is established.

While I have herein described my invention in detail, it will be obvious that many changes may be made in the character of the figure and ornamentation of the objects without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what 2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a paper casing formed and ornamented to represent any desired figure, a plurality of display-surfaces, a cord to which said surfaces are attached, a ring secured to one end of said cord, a weight secured to the other end of said cord, a spike or pointed projection on the free end of said weight, said display-surfaces, cord, ring and weight being adapted to be concealed Within said-paper casing when so desired, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS J. STRAUB.

In presence of J OHN GROETZINGER, WM. (1. SUMMERS. 

